Paris wears its history on limestone and glass: medieval islands, Second Empire boulevards, and modernist lines. From the Roman Lutetia to the Belle Époque and beyond, the city has been a stage for art, ideas, and revolutions of style. Today, Gothic spires, Haussmannian façades, and cutting‑edge galleries coexist in a walkable, café-filled metropolis.

Highlights like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre‑Dame (reopened in 2024), and Musée d’Orsay pair beautifully with time in living neighborhoods—Montmartre’s hills, the literary Left Bank, the indie boutiques of the Marais, and the canals of the 10th. Eat your way through flaky viennoiseries, classic bistros, natural wine bars, and vibrant markets like Marché d’Aligre and Les Enfants Rouges.

Practical notes: Reserve timed-entry for major museums and the Eiffel Tower. The Metro is fast and frequent; consider a Navigo Easy card. Official CDG taxi flat rates are ~€55 (Right Bank) and ~€62 (Left Bank). Many museums close one day weekly (Louvre Tuesday, Orsay Monday). Pack comfortable shoes—Paris is best discovered on foot.

Paris

Paris is a city of villages. Each arrondissement hums with its own mood—from the mansard roofs and artists’ studios of Montmartre to the jazz cellars of Saint‑Germain. Plan days by neighborhood to feel the rhythm between landmarks.

• Top sights: Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sainte‑Chapelle, Notre‑Dame, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles (day trip).
• Neighborhoods to wander: Le Marais for boutiques and falafel; Saint‑Germain for cafés and bookstores; Canal Saint‑Martin for indie vibes; Latin Quarter for history and student buzz.
• Food & drink: Bouillons for budget classics, bistronomy for modern French, pâtisserie and fromagerie stops between strolls, and a thriving natural wine scene.

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Luxury icons: The Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, The Peninsula Paris.
• Boutique favorites: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Hôtel du Temps, Hôtel des Arts Montmartre, Hotel du College de France.
• Great value: Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, Hôtel des Arts Bastille, Hôtel du Champ de Mars, Generator Paris.
• Browse more stays: VRBO Paris or Hotels.com Paris.

How to get to/around Paris (book tickets):

• Flights within or to/from Europe: compare and book on Omio Flights.
• High‑speed trains (Eurostar/TGV) to Paris: search schedules and fares on Omio Trains (e.g., London–Paris ~2h15, Brussels–Paris ~1h22, Lyon–Paris ~2h; typical one‑ways $40–$180).
• Buses (budget intercity): see options on Omio Buses.

Day 1: Arrival, Left Bank Stroll, and Classic Bistro Night

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle Saint‑Germain and Latin Quarter loop: Boulevard Saint‑Germain, Odéon, and along the Seine. Pop into Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots for a people‑watching espresso; browse English‑language shelves at Shakespeare and Company.

Evening: Dinner at a traditional bouillon—try Bouillon Racine near the Sorbonne (art nouveau room, onion soup, beef bourguignon) or Bouillon Chartier Grands Boulevards (no‑frills French classics at brisk prices). Nightcap at La Palette (artists’ haunt) or natural wine at Septime La Cave (standing-room sips and small plates).

Day 2: Louvre Masterpieces, Royal Gardens, Covered Passages

Morning: Join a small‑group Louvre tour to see the essentials without getting lost. Reserve the Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access for priority entry and expert storytelling.

Afternoon: Cross the Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde; stop at Angelina for old‑school chocolat chaud and Mont‑Blanc pastry. Wander the Palais‑Royal arcades and the 19th‑century covered passages (Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas) for bookshops and antique print dealers.

Evening: Early apéro at Juveniles (playful wine list, Scotch eggs, seasonal plates) or Willi’s Wine Bar near the Palais‑Royal. Dinner at Frenchie Bar à Vins on Rue du Nil (no bookings; charcuterie, ricotta with honey, and daily chalkboard specials). Stroll the Opéra Garnier façade by night—if you can, take the last self‑guided visit to see its grand staircase and Chagall ceiling.

Day 3: Île de la Cité Icons and Le Marais Foodie Trail

Morning: Explore Notre‑Dame’s renewed interior (reopened in 2024) and the luminous stained glass of Sainte‑Chapelle—book timed entry. Coffee and croissants at La Fontaine de Belleville or KB Coffee Roasters if you’re starting farther north.

Afternoon: Cross to Le Marais via Pont Marie. Lunch at L’As du Fallafel (crispy, saucy, famous for a reason) or Chez Janou (Provençal dishes and a beloved chocolate mousse). Visit the Musée Carnavalet (free city history) or Musée Picasso (blue and rose periods to late experiments). Treat yourself at Bontemps for sablé biscuits and seasonal fruit tarts.

Evening: Natural wine crawl: Le Barav (cheeses and tartines), La Buvette (tiny, perfect anchovy butter toast), then cocktails at Little Red Door (inventive menus). Dinner options nearby include Le Servan (Franco‑Asian edge, sisters in charge) or Breizh Café for top‑tier buckwheat galettes and cider.

Day 4: Versailles Half‑Day and Montmartre at Sunset

Morning: Head out on a guided visit to skip transit logistics and queues. Book the Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris—you’ll see the Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments, and manicured gardens with expert context.

Afternoon: Return to Paris and ride the funicular (or climb) up to Sacré‑Cœur for sweeping views. Meander Rue des Abbesses and Rue Lepic—peek at the “Amélie” grocery, browse small galleries, and find street art near Place des Abbesses.

Evening: Dinner at La Mascotte (classic Montmartre brasserie with oysters and seafood) or Le Coq & Fils (rotisserie‑forward). For sweets, seek out a slice of lemon tart at Le Grenier à Pain. End with jazz at Autour de Midi…et Minuit or a digestif at Le Très Particulier (hidden garden bar at Hôtel Particulier).

Day 5: Left Bank Art Day—Orsay, Orangerie, Luxembourg

Morning: Musée d’Orsay’s Impressionist rooms glow in morning light—Monet, Renoir, Degas, and the iconic station clock. Follow with the Orangerie for Monet’s Water Lilies, designed for contemplative viewing in oval rooms.

Afternoon: Lunch at Café de la Nouvelle Mairie (beloved bistro by the Panthéon; great terrines and a short, thoughtful wine list) or Semilla’s sister spot Freddy’s for small plates. Stroll Luxembourg Gardens, watch a sailboat on the Grand Bassin, then tour the Panthéon’s crypts of French luminaries.

Evening: Classic bistro comfort at Bistrot Paul Bert (if you can nab a reservation; pepper steak and île flottante), or modern seafood at Clamato (walk‑in; scallops, razor clams, and seasonal sharing plates). For music, book a set at Duc des Lombards (pro jazz club) or swing at Caveau de la Huchette.

Day 6: Markets, Canal Life, and a Candlelit Seine

Morning: Start at Marché d’Aligre (except Mondays): produce mounded high, a covered market for cheeses and charcuterie, and the flea‑style brocante outside. Grab a coffee at Café Méricourt or Ten Belles (by the canal) and a kouign‑amann from Du Pain et des Idées if you’re nearby.

Afternoon: Wander Canal Saint‑Martin’s iron footbridges, indie shops, and leafy quays. Picnic supplies from Fromagerie Beaufils and a baguette “tradition” along the water make a perfect pause. Detour to the greenway Promenade Plantée (Coulée Verte) for an elevated stroll above the streets.

Evening: Dress for a night on the river with the Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise—glass‑canopy views, live music, and illuminated monuments drifting by.

Day 7: Eiffel Tower Morning and Rue Cler Farewell

Morning: Save a final‑day highlight for blue skies—book Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift for a smooth entry and views from the top. Your host shares stories of Gustave Eiffel and the 1889 World’s Fair as Paris unfolds below.

Afternoon: Stroll Rue Cler’s open‑air market street for picnic fixings—ripe cheeses, charcuterie, strawberries in season—and a last café crème at Café du Marché. Pack, check out, and transfer to the airport or station (RER B from central Paris to CDG ~35–45 minutes; official taxi flat rate ~€55 Right Bank/€62 Left Bank).

Evening: Departure day—if you have extra time, cross the Champ de Mars for a final photo and a quick glass of Sancerre at a nearby café like Les Cocottes (modern French comfort, often open all day).

Optional swaps and smart tips

• Swap in Musée Rodin (sculpture garden bliss) or the Centre Pompidou (modern art and rooftop views) if you’re keen on specific art periods.
• Rain plan: the covered passages, department store domes (Printemps rooftop), and the Passages des Panoramas are perfect for drizzly hours.
• Breakfast greats: Holybelly (pancakes and filter coffee), Café Méricourt (shakshuka), Boot Café (tiny, strong), Telescope (third‑wave purist).
• Quick eats: Crêpes from Breizh Café, falafel in the Marais, or a jambon‑beurre from a neighborhood boulangerie—simple, perfect Paris.

One more curated experience (optional): If you prefer an all‑in‑one intro day, consider Paris in a Day with Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame & Cruise to hit the headliners efficiently at the start of your week.

In seven days, you’ve tasted Paris from its spires to its cellars—headline museums, neighborhood kitchens, garden benches, and the city’s silver river at night. Keep the map in your pocket and walk; in Paris, the space between sights is often the best part.